A boost for the development of OCOP products.

This will be a "boost" for businesses in the province to invest in developing potential products in the future.

Promoting traditional crafts

The Phuong Di Bee Cooperative was established in 2019 with 276 members operating in fields such as rice and cashew processing, beekeeping, and honey production. Among these, beekeeping and honey harvesting according to VietGAP standards is the cooperative's strength. Currently, the cooperative is involved in the breeding and harvesting of approximately 10,000 honeybee colonies in Gia Lai and neighboring provinces.

Ms. Tran Thi Hoang Anh, Director of Phuong Di Bee Honey Cooperative, shared: Gia Lai has vast areas of coffee, rubber, cashew, and fruit trees, which are favorable for developing beekeeping for honey production.

“My family has been involved in beekeeping for generations. To enhance the value of our products and build a honey brand, I have partnered with other beekeeping households to establish the Phuong Di Bee Cooperative. The cooperative raises bees according to VietGAP standards, producing approximately 1,000 tons of raw honey per year.”

Over the years, the cooperative has continuously invested in purchasing machinery and equipment to create high-quality honey products. In 2019, the cooperative had 4 products recognized as achieving OCOP 4-star provincial level," said the Director of Phuong Di Bee Honey Cooperative.

Tourists examine Phuong Di honey products on display at the Bien Ho Tourist Area (Pleiku City). **Photo: ND**

Mr. Tran Nguyen Hoi (Ia Der commune, Ia Grai district) said: He has been a member of the cooperative since its establishment. Currently, he raises 400 bee colonies for honey production according to VietGAP standards. If the weather is sunny and warm, he harvests honey once every 8-10 days.

“Each time, I harvest about 3 tons of raw honey, which I bring back to the cooperative’s workshop to separate the components to ensure standards are met and then bottle it. On average, I achieve a profit of over 200 million VND per year,” Mr. Hoi informed.

Mr. Hoi is inspecting the beehive frame. **Photo: ND**

According to Mr. Hoi, the cooperative also guarantees the purchase of raw honey from its members at a stable price. Recently, the cooperative's honey product was recognized as a 5-star OCOP product. This serves as motivation for members to develop beekeeping to achieve the highest economic efficiency.

Motivation for the development of OCOP products

According to information from the Provincial Rural Development Coordination Office, after 5 years of implementation, the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program in the province has attracted many participants. As a result, the province's OCOP products have not only increased in quantity but also received high praise from consumers for their quality.

The recognition of Phuong Di honey as a 5-star OCOP product serves as a foundation to encourage other businesses to continue investing in and developing potential OCOP products from 4 stars to 5 stars in the future.

Tourists learn about Phuong Di honey. **Photo: ND**

According to the Director of Phuong Di Bee Honey Cooperative, many of the cooperative's honey products and processed honey products are currently selling well on e-commerce platforms. In particular, the cooperative's honeycomb honey product is highly appreciated by consumers both domestically and internationally.

In 2024, many customers from South Korea and several other countries visited the cooperative to learn about its products and discuss long-term consumption plans. This motivated the cooperative to invest in improving product quality to meet the standards of a 5-star OCOP product.

“Currently, the cooperative has applied Industry 4.0 technology in production and consumption, so the output is no longer dependent on traders. The cooperative's honey products are now available on e-commerce platforms. The cooperative is prioritizing the deep processing of honey products to target the export market. In particular, the cooperative will continuously invest in expanding its scale, improving product quality, and diversifying its consumption markets,” the Director of Phuong Di Bee Honey Cooperative enthusiastically stated.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Tran Van Van, Deputy Chief of the Provincial New Rural Development Coordination Office, informed: After 5 years of implementing the OCOP Program, the province now has 76 OCOP 4-star products and 386 OCOP 3-star products.

Currently, Gia Lai has 5 products in the process of completing the application dossiers for OCOP 5-star recognition, including: Dak Yang coffee, Fine Robusta coffee, Le Chi organic red pepper, Le Chi organic black pepper, and Le Chi organic white pepper.

The recognition of Phuong Di honey as a 5-star OCOP product is a great motivation for businesses in the province to invest in developing potential products in the future.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/cu-hich-de-phat-trien-san-pham-ocop-post311012.html